Panelling system primarily for decking

ABSTRACT

A panelling system for decks has a series of panels each formed from main strips arranged side edge to side edge and cut to a common length with a groove along each side. A plurality of fasteners extend into facing grooves to hold the strips together and also have a hole to be screwed to a support. At two of the four sides of the main panel are attached divider strips formed also from the same deck planks and fastened together using the same fasteners in the grooves to form a common panel member for transportation and installation. The panels are laid on top of strapping carried at right angles to supporting joists so that the ends of the main planks are supported by two parallel strapping pieces with an additional one in the center. The fasteners also project beyond the panel edge to connect the panels together.

This invention relates to a panelling system defined by a plurality of inter-engaging panels. The system is primarily designed for decking. The system is primarily designed for use with panels formed of wood or wood composite material but other materials can be used either to form the entire panel or a part of the panel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various techniques have been proposed for the manufacture of wood decking. Conventionally wood decking is formed side by side planks which are laid over a sub-frame typically of parallel joists and arranged with spaces between the side edges for expansion and drainage. This construction is time consuming and relatively inaccurate so that gaps can be uneven leading to an unattractive appearance.

In published US Patent Application 2006/0076394 published Apr. 13, 2006 and in corresponding Canadian Application Serial No: 2,525,516 originally published Mar. 4, 2005 of Kelly Gibson, one of the inventors herein, is disclosed a panelling system primarily for flooring which is formed from a plurality of wood floor panel members defined by a rectangular panel formed of wood and along two opposed side edges a decorative dividing strip extending along the length of the side edge and having a top surface of the strip lying in a common plane with the upper surface of the panel with the other opposed side edges of the panel being exposed for butting directly against a next adjacent panel. The dividing strips project beyond an end of the side edge and are cut at 45 degrees to form a pointed portion having an apex at a position mid way through the thickness of the dividing strip such that four dividing strips, when the panels are laid on the floor, meet at the junction between four of the panels with the apexes in contact at a center of the rectangular area at the junction. This arrangement as disclosed was proposed for use with rectangular panels of solid wood or for deck strips and as such was not suitable for high quality interior flooring. The disclosure of this published application is incorporated herein by reference.

Recently decking planks formed from wood composite materials have become available where the planks have grooves along the side edges and are fastened to the joists of the sub-frame and held at required spacing by fasteners in the form approximately shown in U.S. Design Pat. No. 427,050 (Bryan) issued Jun. 27, 2000. These are in the form of a square insert plate which inserts into the facing grooves of two of the planks with a leg between the planks which extends down toward the sub-frame with a hole in the leg so that the leg can be screwed down onto a joist. The decking is supplied as a series of planks which are cut and assembled on site with a collection of the fasteners which are inserted on site and screwed into position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is one object of the invention to provide a panelling system primarily for decking.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a panelling system comprising:

a plurality of deck panel members for locating on a supporting structure generally edge to edge in an array to at least partly cover the supporting surface;

each deck panel member having a front surface for defining an exposed surface of the panelling system, a rear surface for engaging the supporting structure and four side edges;

each deck panel member comprising a plurality of strips arranged side edge to side edge to form a panel body with the side edges adjacent but spaced from one another;

a side edge of each strip which faces a corresponding side edge of a next adjacent strip having a groove therealong recessed into the side edge so that the grooves of two of the strips face one another at the side edges;

the side edges of the strips being connected by at least one fastener member which includes two end portions each inserted into a respective one of the grooves and a bridging portion holding the side edges at a predetermined spacing;

each end portion having an attachment into the groove of the respective strip with the attachment arranged to hold the strips fastened together as a common panel member separate from the supporting structure during transportation and installation.

Preferably each end portion comprises a flat plate portion inserted into the groove and extending partly along the groove.

In one arrangement of this fastener, each end portion butts against a bottom of the groove.

In another arrangement of this fastener, there is provided on the bridging portion a shoulder for engaging the end face of one of the strips for holding the strip at a predetermined location.

Preferably the bridging portion is recessed from the front and rear surfaces so that the panel can be used either way up without the bridging portion forming an unsightly member at the surface.

In one arrangement of this fastener, the attachment of the end portions to the groove is effected by insert members or pins engaged through the strip and across the groove.

In another arrangement of this fastener, the attachment of an end portion to the respective groove is effected by barb members on the end portion engaging side walls of the groove.

Preferably in this arrangement the end portion includes first barb members extending parallel to the bridging portion and second barb members extending at right angles to the bridging portion so as to hold the end portion in the groove against movement relative to the groove in two directions.

Preferably the bridging portion includes a hole for receiving a fastening screw engaging from the fastener member to the supporting structure to hold the panel on the supporting structure.

Preferably two parallel ones of the strips with a space therebetween have ends thereof which face a corresponding side edge of a next adjacent strip with a space therebetween; the side edge of said next adjacent strip having a groove therealong recessed into the side edge; the side edges of each of said two parallel ones of the strips having a groove therealong recessed into the side edge such that the grooves of two facing side edges of the two parallel strips are facing grooves; and at least one fastener member connecting the ends of the two parallel strips to the next adjacent strip, which fastener member includes two end portions with one end portion inserted into the groove of the next adjacent strip and one end portion inserted into the facing grooves of the two parallel strips with a part of the end portion bridging the space between the two parallel end strips.

Preferably there are a plurality of the fastener members each arranged to connect at least two of the strips together and wherein at least some of the fastener members have portions thereof extending beyond the panel member for engaging and fastening to a next adjacent panel member.

Preferably each panel has a plurality of main strips defining a panel portion having four sides including a first pair of parallel sides and a second pair of parallel sides, a first dividing strip along one of the first parallel sides and a second dividing strip along an opposed one of the first parallel sides. However other panel constructions can be used.

In this arrangement, preferably each of the main strips has along at least one side thereof three of the fastener members with one at each end and one in the center.

In this arrangement, preferably there are provided some panels where the main strips are parallel to the dividing strips and some panels where the main strips are at right angles to the dividing strips.

In this arrangement, preferably each of the dividing strips of each panel member includes a portion projecting beyond the main strips of the respective panel member such that, when four of the panel members are assembled into the system with the main strips of one panel member at right angles to the main strips of each next adjacent panel and with one of the dividing strips between the main strips of each panel member and the next so as to form a rectangular area at a junction between corners of the main strips of the four of the panels; the rectangular area defined at the junction between said four of the panels is filled by said portion of said at least one dividing strip.

In this arrangement, preferably the supporting structure comprises a plurality of parallel joists and strapping pieces over the joists at right angles to the joists and wherein each of the main strips lies at right angles to the strapping pieces and is supported at each end by a respective one of two end strapping pieces.

Preferably there is provided an additional strapping piece in the center between the end strapping pieces.

Preferably the dividing strips bridge an end strapping piece of one panel and an end strapping piece of a next adjacent panel.

Preferably all the main strips of all the panels extend in same direction.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provide a panelling system comprising:

a plurality of panel members for locating on a supporting structure generally edge to edge in an array to at least partly cover the supporting surface;

each panel member having a front surface for defining an exposed surface of the panelling system, a rear surface for engaging the supporting structure and four side edges;

each panel member comprising a plurality of strips arranged side edge to side edge to form a panel body with the side edges adjacent but spaced from one another;

wherein there are a plurality of fastener members each arranged to connect at least two of the strips together;

and wherein at least some of the fastener members have portions thereof extending beyond the panel member for engaging and fastening to a next adjacent panel member.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provide a panelling system comprising:

a plurality of panel members for locating on a supporting structure generally edge to edge in an array to at least partly cover the supporting surface;

each panel member having a front surface for defining an exposed surface of the panelling system, a rear surface for engaging the supporting structure and four side edges;

each panel member comprising a plurality of strips arranged side edge to side edge to form a panel body with the side edges adjacent but spaced from one another;

wherein each panel has a plurality of main strips defining a panel portion having four sides including a first pair of parallel sides and a second pair of parallel sides, a first dividing strip along one of the first parallel sides and a second dividing strip along an opposed one of the first parallel sides;

wherein the supporting structure comprises a plurality of parallel joists and strapping pieces over the joists at right angles to the joists;

and wherein each of the main strips lies at right angles to the strapping pieces and is supported at each end by a respective one of two end strapping pieces.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One embodiment of the invention will now be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a first panel of a flooring system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a second panel of the flooring system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view through a junction between two boards of the panel of FIG. 1 showing two different embodiments of fasteners therebetween and the connection to the support structure

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a series of such panels assembled with a support structure to form part of the flooring system.

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of one of the fasteners of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the fastener of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view on an enlarged scale showing the connection between strips using the fastener of FIG. 5.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference is made to the above published application of Gibson which shows and describes the details of the panels with the dividing strips and the interconnection between the four corners of the panels at the dividing strips.

The arrangement described herein and shown generally in FIG. 4 comprises a floor system defined by a series of panel members, four of which are shown at 10 through 13. Each of the panel members, as best visible in FIG. 3, has a top surface 16 defining a floor surface on which the user walks and providing an attractive appearance as described hereinafter. Each of the panel members includes a bottom surface 17 for sitting on a support structure.

The arrangement as shown is primarily for decking and hence is supported on a support structure defined by joists 17A, 17B forming a frame and by strapping rails 17C applied on top of the joists. The joists are commonly 2×8 or 2×10 lumber standing vertically with cross joists 17A and end joists 17B at right angles. The strapping is 2×4 or 2×6 lumber applied across the joists 17A at right angles thereto and laid flat so as to provide support for the panels 10 to 13 etc and particularly the ends of the boards of the panels as described hereinafter.

Each of the panel members is formed from a plurality of side by side main strips 10A to 10E which are connected together side by side to form an initial panel portion 14. The number, length and width of the strips can vary in accordance with requirements to manufacture a panel of a required size. The main panel has four side edges so that for example the panel 10 has side edges 20 and 21 which form a first pair of opposed side edges and side edges 22 and 23 which form a second pair of opposed side edges.

The main strips are formed from deck boards which are commonly available and can be formed from many different wood varieties or from a wood/resin composite material or wholly from plastics. Typically the boards are 1×6 which, when the panels are placed into location, are laid flat side by side over the strapping 17C. Each board has a groove 19 recessed horizontally from each of the vertical side edges 18.

In order to form these boards into a flooring system having an attractive appearance, each base panel formed by the side by side boards has attached two dividing strips which are attached to opposite side edges of the panel. Thus for example the panel 10 in FIG. 1 has two dividing strips 30 and 31 attached along the side edges 20 and 21. The panel 11 in FIG. 2 has two dividing strips 30A and 31A attached along the side edges 22 and 23. The dividing strips are formed from a board similar in appearance to the boards forming the panel but are arranged at right angles to the boards so as to provide an attractive appearance in the floor when completed and laid.

Each dividing strip has a depth equal to the thickness of the boards so that a bottom surface of the dividing strip is coincident with the plane of the bottom surface 17 and similarly a top surface of the dividing strip is coincident with the plane of the top surface 16. The dividing strips are preferably formed from the same boards as the main strips 10A to 10E so as to have the same dimensions and the same appearance.

The panel 11 has the dividing strips indicated at 30A and 31A which are arranged parallel to the main boards 10A to 10E rather than at right angles thereto as in panel 10. In this way the panel portion 14 is in the same orientation relative to the panel portion 14 of the panel 10. However the dividing strips 30A and 31A are carried by the panel portion 14 of the panel 11 on the sides 22 and 23 of the panel portion. In this way the side edges of the panel 10 which include the dividing strips 30 and 31 engage respectively the side edge 21 and 22 of the panel portion 14 of the panel 11 which are free from the dividing strips. Similarly the dividing strips 30A and 31A butt the next adjacent panel not numbered.

The panel 11 also has bare edges 23A butting the dividing strips 30 and 31 and its dividing strip 30A butts the edge 23B of the panel 12. In this way it will be appreciated that the whole floor can be laid by rotating the panels back and forth through 1800 and laying them each to the next with the side edges butting. In this way between each panel and the next adjacent panel is one dividing strip thus separating the panels by the thickness of the dividing strip while allowing the bare edge of the strip to butt against the outside surface of the dividing strip.

Each of the dividing strips extends along the full length of the respective side edge of the panel and also extends beyond the end of the side edge into a pointed portion 50. This arrangement is described in more detail in the above prior application of Gibson. In general the pointed portion 50 is cut to form two side edges 52 and 53 converging to an apex 54. The ends 52 and 53 are cut at 45° relative to the sides of the dividing strip so that they are 900 to each other forming a right angle triangle converging to the apex 54 which lies on a centre line of the dividing strips 30A.

Each of the strips 10A through 10E is of an equal common width and is formed from conventional floor planking so each strip has a groove 19 on each side.

The divider strips are formed from a material of the same width and same construction as the strips forming the panel. Thus each divider strip itself has a groove 19 along each side. The divider strips are formed from a common source of the same material and generally therefore have the same width of the strips 10A through 10E and can be taken from the same supply. The divider strips may not be visually distinct from the main strips. However visually distinct divider strips can be used to generate a pattern.

Thus in FIG. 2, there is shown a flooring pattern formed from two separate types of panels where one of the types is as shown in FIG. 1 where the divider strips are at right angles to the main strips and a second of the types is shown in FIG. 2 where the divider strips are parallel to the main strips. As shown in FIG. 4 this forms a pattern where all the main strips are oriented in a common direction and the divider strips form a series of rows across and parallel to the main strips. It will be appreciated that the combination of such panels can be used to create many different panelling effects and patterns.

In all of the panels, the dividing strips include the pointed portions 50 as previously described projecting beyond an edge of the panel body. Thus the dividing strips of the panel members are arranged with the portions 50 of the dividing strips of each panel member projecting beyond the main strips of the respective panel member such that, when four of the panel members are assembled into the system with the main strips of one panel member at right angles to the main strips of each next adjacent panel and with one of the dividing strips between the main strips of each panel member and the next so as to form a rectangular area at a junction between corners of the main strips of the four of the panels; the rectangular area defined at the junction between said four of the panels is filled by said portion of said at least one dividing strip.

A fastener arrangement for connecting each strip to the next adjacent strip is shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 to 7. In each case the divider strips and the main strips are fastened together using the fastener members 60 to form a common panel member for transportation and installation.

The fastener members 60 in the form of joining plates are used to connect the main strips of the panels and the divider strips of the panels to the main strips. Sufficient numbers of plates can be used to ensure a structurally stable product.

The strips including the main strips and the divider strips are fastened together using the fastening members 60. Each main strip 10A to 10E has three of the fastening members 60 located at spaced positions along its length. Thus at each end of a main strip is located two of the fastening members 60 and an additional fastening member 60 is located at the center of each main strip. Each main strip is fastened to its next adjacent main strip by the fastener members 60 which bridge the space between the main strip and the next adjacent element which can be another main strip or it can be one of the dividing strips or it can be a component of a next adjacent panel.

It will be appreciated that the panels are intended to form decking and decking conventionally has spaces between the boards or strips forming the decking. In order to achieve this effect in the panels, each main strip is separated from its next adjacent main strip by a space which can typically be ¼ inch. In addition the end of each main board is separated from the next adjacent element by a similar space. In FIG. 1 the end of each main board is fastened to the inside edge or inner side of the divider strip. In FIG. 2, the ends of the main strips are exposed for connection during assembly of the structure to the divider strip of a next adjacent panel.

In addition to the spaces between the main strips and the divider strips there are also spaces formed between the side edges 52 and 53 of the points and the respective side edges of the next adjacent points 50. This provides an assembly in which the spaces are provided throughout the structure which matches the arrangement of conventional decking structures.

The structure of the fasteners 60 is shown initially in FIG. 3. In FIG. 3 for convenience of illustration there are two types of fasteners shown including a first fastener 61 and a second fastener type 62. The fastener 62 is shown in more detail in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7.

The fastener 62 comprises a generally planar body 63 with a central bridging portion 64 to be located between the two strips and two insert portions 65 and 66 arranged to be inserted into the two facing grooves 19 of two adjacent strips. Each insert portion 65, 66 is generally rectangular so as to be inserted into the respective groove along a part of the length of the groove and to a position closely adjacent to but slightly spaced from the base 19A of the groove. Each insert portion therefore includes a top surface 67 and a bottom surface 68 for engaging respectively the top surface 19B of the groove and the bottom surface 19C of the groove. The intention is that the insert portion acts as a tight engagement fit within the groove. In order to enable the insert portion to be inserted into the groove, it is tapered from the top surface 67 downwardly to a front nose 69 and also upwardly from the bottom surface 68. In addition the insert portion includes side walls 70 and 71 and again the nose 69 is tapered inwardly at 72 and 73 so that the nose is tapered in both directions allowing ready insert of the insert portion into the mouth of the groove from which position it can be inserted by pressure into the groove as a tight fit.

In this embodiment the central bridging portion 64 has a thickness that is greater than the insert portions 65 and 66 so as to define shoulders 73 on each side of the bridging portion 64 at both the top surface 67 and the bottom surface 68. It will be appreciated therefore that with the insert portion driven into the groove, the shoulder 73 will engage the edge surface 18 of the strip to be attached. Thus the four shoulders of the bridging portion 64 engage the side edges 18 of two of the strips and hold those strips at a predetermined spacing defined by the width of the bridging portion 64.

In order to maintain the insert portion 65 and 66 within its respective groove, the upper and lower surfaces are formed with barbs 74 and 75. In the embodiment shown there are three barbs 74 extending across the insert portion parallel to the bridging portion 64. These of course are shaped to prevent the insert portion from being pulled back out of the groove after insertion into the groove. Thus they are shaped with a wedging action on one side and a sharp edge on the other side in a conventional manner of such a barb. In the embodiment shown there are three such barbs on the top and bottom surface of each of the insert portions 65 and 66.

In order to prevent movement of the insert portion along the groove, there are additional barbs 75 provided which extend at right angles to the bridging portion 64. These barbs are located at the side surfaces 70 and 71 and project upwardly from the upper and lower surfaces to a height approximately equal to those of the barbs 74. It will be appreciated therefore that pressure of the insert portion into the groove will cause the barbs to bite into the material at the top and bottom surfaces of the groove to resist or prevent movement of the insert portion in both directions out of the groove and longitudinally along the groove.

It will be appreciated that the location and arrangement of the barbs can vary with the intention that they be designed simply for ready insertion of the insert portion into the groove and to provide the resistance to movement in both directions.

Additional engagement of the bars with the surfaces of the groove can be obtained by pressing the material of the strip along the sides of the strip so as to compress the strip at the groove tending to compress the strip onto the insert portion by distorting the material of the insert portion slightly to obtain greater bighting effect.

The bridging portion 64 has a height from the top and bottom surfaces of the insert portion which is less than the distance between the groove and the top and bottom surfaces of the strip. Thus as best shown in FIG. 3, the top and bottom surfaces 78 and 79 of the bridging portion 64 are recessed from the respective surfaces 16 and 17 of the strips. Thus when assembled, the fasteners are not visible at the surface and are only visible by looking down into the respective space so that the appearance is acceptable as the fastening component of the structure rather than as an unattractive element at the surface.

The bridging portion 64 has a central hole 80 which passes through the bridging portion from the top surface to the bottom surface to allow a screw 81 to be inserted to engage through the fastener into the supporting strapping 17C. Thus the fasteners act to both hold the strips side by side and also to provide a fastening system for attaching the panel to the support structure when the panel is located in place.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the fasteners 60 are arranged between each main strip and the next adjacent main strip and between the main strips and the dividing strips. Thus in FIG. 1 the fasteners are located into the space between two of the main strips at the ends of the main strips and these fasteners are available for connection to the dividing strip either of the same panel or the next adjacent panel. In addition where the edge of the panel is available for engagement with the next adjacent panel, the fasteners are the edge are located in place and are available for engagement with the next adjacent panel.

The fasteners of the panel therefore provide firstly the function of holding the panel assembled as an individually transportable unit prior to installation and also they provide the connection from one panel to the next as the panels are assembled and thirdly they also provide the arrangement for fastening the panels to the support structure during the installation or after the installation is completed.

The use of three fasteners along each main strip provides sufficient fastening strength to allow the panels to be carried and moved from place to place both for storage and transportation. It will be appreciated that the panels of FIG. 1 are more stable in that the divider strips are at right angles to the main strips and therefore prevent bending of the structure. The arrangement of FIG. 2 is less stable since the structure can bend about transverse axes but the fastening arrangements described provide sufficient strength to enable the transportation and assembly of the panels of both types.

Turning now to FIG. 7, a first fastener 62A is shown which is arranged to connect between the side edge 18 of a main strip 10A and the side edge 18 of a second strip 10B. In addition the ends of those main strips 10A and 10B also fasten to the dividing strip 30. Thus will be appreciated that the fastener 62 is inserted into the groove 18 of the dividing strip 30 so that the barbs 75 and 74 engage into the groove 18 to hold the fastener against movement out of the groove and movement along the groove.

The other insert portion of the fastener is inserted into the groove 19 of the side of each of the main strips 10A and 10B. There is no groove at the end of the strips and hence the width of the fastener 62 across the ends is arranged so that it is less than the spacing between the bases of the grooves 19 of the boards 10A and 10B. The barbs 74 prevent the strips 10A and 10B being moved longitudinally away from the fastener. The barbs 75 prevent the strips 10A and 10B being moved apart. The shoulders on the bridging portion 64 act to hold the space between the ends of the main strips and the dividing strip. In the embodiment shown there is no shoulders on the fastener between the main strip 10A and the main strip 10B. However the engagement of the barbs can be sufficient to hold the main strips in place.

As an alternative arrangement there may be provided a raised shoulder in a bridging section between the edge 18 of the main strip 10A and the edge 18 of the main strip 10B. This will form the bridging section 64 into a T shape with a portion extending along into the space between the edges 18 of the strips 10A and 10B.

A further fastener indicated at 62B is located between the opposite side edge 18 of the main strip 10A and the dividing strip 30 at a position adjacent the point 50 and its side surface 52. This fastening member 62B is generally of the same shape and construction as the fastener member 62A and acts to engage into groove 19 of the dividing strip 30 and also into the groove 19 of the outer side edge of the main strip 10A. The remaining part of the fastener projects outwardly beyond the edge of the panel for engagement with the dividing strip 32A of the next adjacent panel 11. Thus the portion 85 of the fastener 62B normally projects outwardly from the edge 18 of the main strip 10A and from the surface 52 of dividing strip 30. In this embodiment the fastener 62B has no shoulders acting to locate the spacing between the various components. However it will be appreciated that a separate fastening element can be manufactured which is shaped with h the generally Y-shaped spaces between the two dividing strips 30 and 32A and the edges of the main strip 10A.

Thus the fasteners may be manufactured in a manner which allows all of the fastener members to be of the same shape or three different types of fastener member can be manufactured for each of the three different locations on the panels. Thus for example the bridging portion can be T-shaped for the fastening member 62A, can be Y-shaped for the member 62B and can be simply a central flat strip for the fastening members located in the center of the main strips.

A second simpler form of fastener member 61 is shown also in FIG. 3 and this is in the form of simply a flat square plate without any raised bridging portion and without any barbs. In this arrangement the flat square plate is inserted into the grooves 19 until the edges of the flat square plate engage the base of the grooves. Thus the spacing between the edges 18 is maintained fixed by the fact that the plate has a width greater than the depth of the two grooves.

It will be appreciated that this arrangement can be used in any of the various locations of the panel. However in the absence of any barbs it is necessary to hold the plate in place and in this embodiment this is effected by a pair of pins 90 engaged through the plate on either side of the junction so that each strip is fastened to the plate by two such pins.

An arrangement is also possible which uses barbs 74 and 75 of connector 62 but uses the engagement with the bottom of the groove to accurately maintain the spacing between the connected strips as in connector 61.

As shown n FIG. 4, the supporting structure comprises a plurality of parallel joists 17A and strapping pieces 17C over the joists at right angles to the joists. Each of the main strips 10A to 10E lies at right angles to the strapping pieces 17C and is supported at each end by a respective one of two end strapping pieces 17E and 17F on which the end lies. The screws 81 in the holes 80 of the fasteners 62 at the ends of the main strips thus can engage into the strapping pieces 17E and 17F respectively. There is provided also an additional strapping piece 17G in the center between the end strapping pieces.

The dividing strips 30 bridge an end strapping piece 17E of one panel and an end strapping piece 17F of a next adjacent panel. In this arrangement it is necessary that all the main strips of all the panels extend in same direction since these are carried on the strapping pieces extending across the full extent of the deck.

This arrangement allows an increased spacing between joists from 16 inches to 24 inches in view of the additional of the strapping relative to conventional systems.

The panels are stable element of the order of 24 inches in width which thus can be stored as a stack on a conventional pallet which is a much more stable system of transportation and storage than the conventional long boards.

Since various modifications can be made in my invention as herein above described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without department from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense. 

1. A panelling system comprising: a plurality of deck panel members for locating on a supporting structure generally edge to edge in an array to at least partly cover the supporting surface; each deck panel member having a front surface for defining an exposed surface of the panelling system, a rear surface for engaging the supporting structure and four side edges; each deck panel member comprising a plurality of strips arranged side edge to side edge to form a panel body with the side edges adjacent but spaced from one another; a side edge of each strip which faces a corresponding side edge of a next adjacent strip having a groove therealong recessed into the side edge so that the grooves of two of the strips face one another at the side edges; the side edges of the strips being connected by at least one fastener member which includes two end portions each inserted into a respective one of the grooves and a bridging portion holding the side edges at a predetermined spacing; each end portion having an attachment into the groove of the respective strip with the attachment arranged to hold the strips fastened together as a common panel member separate from the supporting structure during transportation and installation.
 2. The panelling system according to claim 1 wherein each end portion comprises a flat plate portion inserted into the groove and extending partly along the groove.
 3. The panelling system according to claim 1 wherein each end portion butts against a bottom of the groove.
 4. The panelling system according to claim 1 wherein there is provided on the bridging portion a shoulder for engaging the end face of one of the strips for holding the strip at a predetermined location.
 5. The panelling system according to claim 1 wherein the bridging portion is recessed from the front and rear surfaces.
 6. The panelling system according to claim 1 wherein the attachment of the end portions to the groove is effected by insert members engaged through the strip and across the groove.
 7. The panelling system according to claim 1 wherein the attachment of an end portion to the respective groove is effected by barb members on the end portion engaging side walls of the groove.
 8. The panelling system according to claim 7 wherein the end portion includes first barb members extending parallel to the bridging portion and second barb members extending at right angles to the bridging portion so as to hold the end portion in the groove against movement relative to the groove in two directions.
 9. The panelling system according to any one of claims 1 wherein the bridging portion includes a hole for receiving a fastening screw engaging from the fastener member to the supporting structure to hold the panel on the supporting structure.
 10. The panelling system according to claim 1 wherein two parallel ones of the strips with a space therebetween have ends thereof which face a corresponding side edge of a next adjacent strip with a space therebetween; the side edge of said next adjacent strip having a groove therealong recessed into the side edge; the side edges of each of said two parallel ones of the strips having a groove therealong recessed into the side edge such that the grooves of two facing side edges of the two parallel strips are facing grooves; and at least one fastener member connecting the ends of the two parallel strips to the next adjacent strip, which fastener member includes two end portions with one end portion inserted into the groove of the next adjacent strip and one end portion inserted into the facing grooves of the two parallel strips with a part of the end portion bridging the space between the two parallel end strips.
 11. The panelling system according to claim 1 wherein there are a plurality of the fastener members each arranged to connect at least two of the strips together and wherein at least some of the fastener members have portions thereof extending beyond the panel member for engaging and fastening to a next adjacent panel member.
 12. The panelling system according to claim 1 wherein each panel has a plurality of main strips defining a panel portion having four sides including a first pair of parallel sides and a second pair of parallel sides, a first dividing strip along one of the first parallel sides and a second dividing strip along an opposed one of the first parallel sides.
 13. The panelling system according to claim 12 wherein each of the main strips has along at least one side thereof three of the fastener members with one at each end and one in the center.
 14. The panelling system according to claim 12 wherein there are provided some panels where the main strips are parallel to the dividing strips and some panels where the main strips are at right angles to the dividing strips.
 15. The panelling system according to claim 12 wherein each of the dividing strips of each panel member includes a portion projecting beyond the main strips of the respective panel member such that, when four of the panel members are assembled into the system with the main strips of one panel member at right angles to the main strips of each next adjacent panel and with one of the dividing strips between the main strips of each panel member and the next so as to form a rectangular area at a junction between corners of the main strips of the four of the panels; the rectangular area defined at the junction between said four of the panels is filled by said portion of said at least one dividing strip.
 16. The panelling system according to claim 12 wherein the supporting structure comprises a plurality of parallel joists and strapping pieces over the joists at right angles to the joists and wherein each of the main strips lies at right angles to the strapping pieces and is supported at each end by a respective one of two end strapping pieces.
 17. The panelling system according to claim 16 wherein there is provided an additional strapping piece in the center between the end strapping pieces.
 18. The panelling system according to claim 16 wherein the dividing strips bridge an end strapping piece of one panel and an end strapping piece of a next adjacent panel.
 19. The panelling system according to claim 16 wherein all the main strips of all the panels extend in same direction.
 20. A panelling system comprising: a plurality of panel members for locating on a supporting structure generally edge to edge in an array to at least partly cover the supporting surface; each panel member having a front surface for defining an exposed surface of the panelling system, a rear surface for engaging the supporting structure and four side edges; each panel member comprising a plurality of strips arranged side edge to side edge to form a panel body with the side edges adjacent but spaced from one another; wherein there are a plurality of fastener members each arranged to connect at least two of the strips together; and wherein at least some of the fastener members have portions thereof extending beyond the panel member for engaging and fastening to a next adjacent panel member.
 21. The panelling system according to claim 20 wherein the fastener members include a hole for screw fastening of the fastener member to the supporting structure.
 22. The panelling system according to claim 20 wherein each panel has a plurality of main strips defining a panel portion having four sides including a first pair of parallel sides and a second pair of parallel sides, a first dividing strip along one of the first parallel sides and a second dividing strip along an opposed one of the first parallel sides.
 23. The panelling system according to claim 22 wherein each of the main strips has along at least one side thereof three of the fastener members with one at each end and one in the center.
 24. The panelling system according to claim 22 wherein there are provided some panels where the main strips are parallel to the dividing strips and some panels where the main strips are at right angles to the dividing strips.
 25. A panelling system comprising: a plurality of panel members for locating on a supporting structure generally edge to edge in an array to at least partly cover the supporting surface; each panel member having a front surface for defining an exposed surface of the panelling system, a rear surface for engaging the supporting structure and four side edges; each panel member comprising a plurality of strips arranged side edge to side edge to form a panel body with the side edges adjacent but spaced from one another; wherein each panel has a plurality of main strips defining a panel portion having four sides including a first pair of parallel sides and a second pair of parallel sides, a first dividing strip along one of the first parallel sides and a second dividing strip along an opposed one of the first parallel sides; wherein the supporting structure comprises a plurality of parallel joists and strapping pieces over the joists at right angles to the joists; and wherein each of the main strips lies at right angles to the strapping pieces and is supported at each end by a respective one of two end strapping pieces.
 26. The panelling system according to claim 25 wherein there are provided some panels where the main strips are parallel to the dividing strips and some panels where the main strips are at right angles to the dividing strips.
 27. The panelling system according to claim 25 wherein there is provided an additional strapping piece in the center between the end strapping pieces.
 28. The panelling system according to claim 25 wherein the dividing strips bridge an end strapping piece of one panel and an end strapping piece of a next adjacent panel.
 29. The panelling system according to claim 25 wherein all the main strips of all the panels extend in same direction. 